Can anyone share the Reedy Creek story... briefly?

[markb]

We've told the kids (10, 7) that we're going to "Reedy Creek"for vacation! They don't don't know where that is, but they're excited by our description (strange characters, nifty lands, riding a metal tube on a concrete track, etc.)
Does anyone have a brief discription of the the role that "Reedy Creek" played in the WDW story?
We'd like to let the girls read that and figure "it out" as we head to wdw!!!!
Cool, huh?
Can you help.
Thanks.

 

[Geoff_M]

There's two faces to the "Reedy CreeK" saga. Walt Disney needed to purchase large tracts of land and orange groves to build WDW. If word got out to the land owners that Disney was doing the buying, the prices would have shot thru the roof. So he started a "front" company using the "Reedy Creek" name and that entity was the one that made the offers and did the buying.

The second part is the special governmental arrangement Disney demanded, and got, from the State of Florida. Disney learned two valuable lessons from building DL. 1) A lot of tourist sprawl sprang up right around the DL property, so when he set out to build WDW he bought plenty of extra land around the planned park to allow for future expansion and a "buffer zone" from other development. 2) He had to fight a lot of governmental zoning red tape when he built DL, so he asked the state legislature in Florida to make WDW its own special governmental authority. So there would be minimal chance of interference from municipal governments. WDW belong within the bountries of two Florida counties (Orange and Osceola), but it doesn't belong (legally) to any city. Instead it is part of what's known as the "Reedy Creek Improvement District" It has its own building codes, zoning rules, fire and EMS department, etc. Look at the inspection certificates in any Disney elevator and you'll see they are issued by the RCID.

RCID sort of has its own "police" department in the form of Disney Security, but criminal matters are handled by the county Sheriff's office. But there have been complaints leveled against Disney Security at times because of alleged overuse of their "quasi" police status.

 

[jdonat]

Geoff_M has it pretty much exactly.
If you can find a copy of Since the World
Began somewhere (WDW 25th anniv. book) there's a pretty good description
of what the RCID does and why. If you
can't find a copy, let me know and I'll
scan in the page and send it to you.
JED

 

[Geoff_M]

Another interesting point I just re-read... Disney pitched the idea to both Orange and Osceola counties that Disney would build and maintain their own roads and utilities in exchange for significant tax breaks. Osceola said "no", but Orange county agreed. It may have changed since then due to all the expansion in recent years, but initially all the development in WDW was done in Orange county. The parts of WDW property in Osceola county were left as wildlife habitat and swamp land. WDW even got federal grants due to the habitat "set asides".

It was a sweet deal Disney got: Protection from many taxing authorities, they get to write their own housing codes, and make up their own zoning rules, the only legal residents are Disney employees that reside there at Disney's will. As their own government, they only has to answer to themselves and the State Legislature.

 

[wdwguide]

Reedy Creek in a nutshell: Disney's puppet government.

 

[markb]

jdonat,
Thanks for the offer, I'll take ya up on it!
my email is markboud@bellsouth.net

Geoff_M,
Thanks for the info... between the two of you guys I'll make a cool story for the girls!!!

 

[Daisimae]

The other reason why Walt wanted the TCID, was because of EPCOT, which was supposted to be a fully functioning city, not a theme park.

Daisimae

 

[caparamedic]

Please go to www.reedycreek.org for more information on Reedy Creek.

Reedy Creek is a special taxing district and is a government entity. Employees of the District are government employees who are covered by the Florida Retirement System.

Disney Security is NOT part of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, although we did find out they have keys to our new fire station. Haven't figured that one out yet!

District employees do not work for the Walt Disney World company and are NOT cast members. The District does however purchase passes and complementary tickets and issues them at the same times of the year that Disney does.

At one time Disney printed pay checks and did payroll, hiring and personnel services, even insurance coverage for district employees. That does not happen now.

For some REAL enlightenment on the District and local government dealing with Disney, read Richard Fogelsong's book, Married to the Mouse.

Hope that helps.

 

[caparamedic]

Here is some BIG news!

As of Friday, December 5, 2003 The Reedy Creek Improvement District has refused to agree to a fair contract and the firefighters are now at empasse. Happy Holidays from Reedy Creek!

Look for "informational gatherings" soon! Look for all "extra" services from the fire department to END.

All of the unions on Disney property support the firefighters in their effort to ensure a safe work environment, fair pay and retiree benefits. These unions will actively participate and support the IAFF Local 2117 Reedy Creek Firefighters Association. www.reedycreek.org

Do you want to help? Here is how:

When you visit, please help support the Reedy Creek Firefighters! Stop by Station One on Buena Vista Drive at Victory Way and buy a Tee-shirt! Too busy? Go to www.reedycreek.org and get one there!

These firefighters protect the magic and save lives at Disney World! They have been without a contract since December 31, 2001 and without a raise since September 11th, 2001!

Ask Steve Colston, the District's Personnel Director, "Why is he trying to break the Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters' Union?" Send him e-mail! scolston@rcid.dst.fl.us or stop by his office on the third floor of the District Administration Building on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. It is a PUBLIC GOVERNMENT building, so feel free to go in! Thanks to Steve's efforts the union is now larger and stronger than ever! Great job Steve!

Ask him why the District will not bargain in good faith and why they have dragged out these negotiations for two and a half years at the expense of those who put their lives on the line to protect the citizens who live and visit the Walt Disney World Resort?

Ask Steve why retired firefighters have to pay 600-800 a MONTH for health insurance just for themselves (families are extra)?

Ask Steve why the District will not provide workers compensation for diseases contracted while on the job, in violation of Florida law?

Ask Steve why he will not recognize our fire inspectors right to be in the union?

Ask Steven why he thinks new firefighters should not hold a fire safety inspector certification, like the rest of the firefighters do?

Ask Steve why he won't given equal raises to firefighters even though insurance and cost of living has increased?

Ask Steven why he used the death of 343 firefighters as an excuse to refuse to negotiate a contract in September of 2001?

Thank you.